Machine for fabricating coiled spring structures



March 6, 1934. D. r. OWEN MACHINE FOR FABRICATiNG COILED SPRING STRUCTURES Filed March 12, 1929 16 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR .UTDWEN.

ATTORNEY D. T. OWEN March 6, 1934.

MACHINE FOR FABRICATING COILED SPRING STRUCTURES Fi led March 12,

1929 16 Sheets-Sheet 2 MSHSH Jamar??? M mum,

ATTORNEY March 6, 1934. D. T. OWEN MACHINE FOR FABRICATING comm SPRING STRUCTURES Filed March 12, 1929 16 Sheets-Sheet 3 lilllllllllllllllllllllllllli Tm?- INVENTOR DI. UINEN.

ATTORNEY March 6, 1934. D. T. OWEN 1,950,188

MACHINE FOR FABRICATING COILED 'SPRING STRUCTURES Filed March 12, 1929 16 Sheets-Sheet 4 Trq- 5 UWE kw.

D. T. OWEN 1,950,188

MACHINE FOR FABRICATING COILED SPRING STRUCTURES March 6, 1934.

Filed March 12, 1929 16 Sheets-Sheet 5 ELI-.7

March 6, 1934. D. T. OWEN 1,950,188

MACHINE FOR FABRICATING COILED SPRING STRUCTURES INVENTOR DTUWEN ATTORNEY March 6, 1934. D. T. OWEN MACHINE FOR FABRICATING COILED SPRING STRUCTURES Filed March 12, 1929 16 Sheets-Sheet 7 a 17V V'lVfbR.

DTUWEN n N v W ATTORNEY D. T. OWEN March 6, 1934.

MACHINE FOR FABRICATING COILED SPRING STRUCTURES Filed March 12, 1929 16 Sheets-Sheet 8 "N U I ATTORNEY D. T. OWEN March 6, 1934.

MACHINE FOR FABRICATING COILED SPRING STRUCTURES Filed Marchlz, 1929 16 Sheets-Sheet 9 ATTO RN EY March 6, 1934. D. T. OWEN 1,950,183

MACHINE FOR FABRICATING COILED SPRING STRUCTURES Filed March 12, 1929 '16 Sheets-Sheet l0 lNVENTOR ATTORNEY March 6, 1934. D. T. OWEN MACHINE FOR FABRICATING COILED SPRING STRUCTURES Filed March 12, 1929 I V T :T 3o .3. m H N I! 5 I i Q M Q w v Q q P Q 7 r NN p Q m ifif A .N

March 6, 1934. D. T. OWEN 1,950,188

MACHINE FOR FABRICATING GOILED SPRING STRUCTURES 1 l l I l,

llllHl 8' c I a b 0 Q n I a flWWW/W I ATTORNEY March 6,' 1934. D. T. OWEN 1,950,188

MACHINE FOR FABRICATING COILED SPRING STRUCTURES Filed March 12, 1929 1G Sheets-Sheet 13 INVINTOK' v D'I'UWEN. ATTORNEY W mm March 6, 1934. D. T. OWEN MACHINE FOR FABRICATING GOILED SPRING STRUCTURES Filed March 12, 1929 16 Sheets-Sheet 14 March 6, 1934. D. T. OWEN MACHINE FOR FABRICATING COILED SPRING iled Marbh 12, 1929 STRUCTURES l6 Sheets-Sheet l5 R W ATTORNEY D. T. OWEN March 6, 1934.

MACHINE FOR FABRICATING COILED SPRING STRUCTURES l6 Sheets-Sheet 16 Filed March 12, 1929 INVENTOR JJ'I." UWE N ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 6, 1934 MACHINE FOR FABRICATING COILED SPRING STRUCTURES David T. Owen, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Owen Automatic Spring Machinery Company,

a corporation of Ohio Application March 12, 1929, Serial No. 346,306

39 Claims.

The present invention pertains to a machine for fabricating spring structures, and in general my object is to provide a machine which will unite a multiple number of coiled wire springs together simultaneously. The idea of means employed also permits a multiple number of coiled springs to be united together simultaneously in parallel rows so 'that a complete spring cushion or mattress of any desired size may be fabricated quickly and conveniently solely by machine operations. In my co-pending applications, Ser. Nos. 156,201 and 156,202, which have since issued as Patent No. 1,705,821, dated March 19, 1929, and Patent No. 1,756,434, dated April 29, 1930, respectively, I show and describe machines for uniting a series of coiled springs together step by step, or successively, thereby providing a single row of springs. In the present machine the individual units of one such row of springs may be readily connected to corresponding units of a second row, and the units in the second row to those of a third row, and so on, it being understood however, that in connecting such units together a plural number are all connected together in a straight line simultaneously.

Accordingly, the present machine includes means for assembling separate rows of coiled springs on parallel lines and means for feeding the assembled springs to a'plurality of clipping or tying devices arranged very compactly beneath a vertically-movable table over which all the springs are caused to travel in unison at intermittent intervals. Means are also provided to guide each row of springs to the clipping devices, and to clamp the base portions of the spaced springs immovably in the same plane while clipping them together simultaneously. To enable a plural number of clipping operations to be effected in close quarters at the same time, the machine also includes compactly arranged mechanism for operating separate sets of clip folding dies simultaneously beneath the top of the machine, all as hereinafter shown and described and more concisely set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is aperspective view of my improved machine, and Fig. 2 a top view of a portion of the assembly table. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the machine. Fig. 4 is a front elevation and vertical cross'section of the machine, on line 4-4 of Fig. 3, and Fig. '5 a horizontal section and top view of the machine, on line 5-5 of Fig. 4, but on a larger scale.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section transversely of ,the-

machine on line 66 of Fig.5, and Fig. 7 is a vertical section longitudinally of the machine on line 7'7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section through the top portion of the machine on line 8-8 of Fig. 6, and Fig. 9 a top view of the machine, showing a group of springs within the guides and over the clipping devices. Fig. 10 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the assembly table, and Fig. 11 a cross section thereof on line 1111 of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a plan view of a portion of the assembly table and a top view of the clipping devices, including a number of coiled springs and the feeding mechanism therefor. Fig. 13 is a sectional view on line 13--13 of Fig. 12, showing a portion of the assembly table elevated in respect to the clipping mechanism and with the pivoted guard for the springs lowered, and Fig. 14 is a similar view with the table lowered and the spring guard raised. Fig.

15 is a sectional view on line 15-15 of Fig. 12, showing a pair of spring gripping devices in an elevated open position, and Fig. 16 is a similar view showing the same devices lowered and closed over a pair of springs. Fig. 17 is a sectional view on line 1'7-17 of Fig. 12 showing the movable guard covering the stationary spacing lug for the springs, and Fig. 18 is a view of the same parts with the springs and assembly table lowered and the movable guard raised. Fig. 19 is a sectional view on line 19-49 of Fig. 12, showing a portion of a draw bar for feeding a row of springs. Fig. 20 is an enlarged sectional view corresponding to Fig. 6 but enlarged and showing only one set of clip folding devices, and Fig. 21 is a similar view and setting of parts but in a different vertical plane, showing a flat blank seated upon the upper ends of the folding dies. Fig. 22 is a perspective view of the flat blank as it appears at the stage of operations delineated in Figs. 20 and 21. Fig. 23 is a sectional. view in two different planes, one-half corresponding to Fig. 20 and the other half to Fig. 21, but showing the folding die moved upwardly and pressing the blank against the wires around which it is to be folded, and Fig. 24 is a perspective view of the blank in the position as stated. Fig. 25 is a sectional view corresponding to Fig. 23 but showing the next step in folding operations, as illustrated in Fig. 26 which is a perspective view showing the clip folded partly around two wires. Fig. 27 is a view corresponding to Fig. 25. but showing the dies forced together as occurs in the next stage of operations when the blank has beenfolded around the wires, as delineated in Fig. 28, which is a perspective view of the blank folded as a clip around-two wires. Fig. 29 is a sectional view corresponding to Fig. 27, but showing the plunger operating on the clip and wires, and Fig. 30 is a perspective view of the indented clip, whereas Fig. 31 is a sectional nary to lowering the dies to the place of begin-- ning. 33, 34, 35, and 36, are diagrammatic views also showing the steps of forming and foldi the blank.

The machine comprises a main frame A having a vertically-movable plate at its top which is provided with a horizontal extension 3 upon which a plural number of coiled wire springs B may be banked or grouped in parallel rows. Thus, extension 3 serves as an assembly table, and being fixed to plate 2, it is also raised and lowered at intervals to facilitate assembly operations and proper placement and feeding of the springs to a row of connecting or clipping devices C located within the upper end of frame A opposite a rectangular opening in top plate 2.

The springs are assembled in definitely spaced rows upon table 3 opposite the clipping devices, channeled guide-ways 4 being provided in close parallel relation longitudinally of the table. Preferably these guide-ways have flaring entranees 5 to readily admit the large end coils or bottom loops b of the springs, which usually are of the cone or hour-glass type. The passage or channel between each pair of guide-ways '4 is wide enough to permit the intermediate coils of the spring to pass through the same Without contact, except where a pair of wing-shaped deflectors 66' overlap and span each channel about mid-length thereof, see Figs. 10 and 11. The deflectors separate the first two coils of the spring so that only the end coil or bottom loop b of 'each spring will travel in the guide-ways 4. To foster that purpose still further the open channel or passage beyond the deflectors 6-6 is narrowed'to permit the second and smaller coil b of the spring to ride upon the border edges of the guide-ways 4. Eventually the second coil b of the spring reaches and rides over a vertically inclined rib or track '7 before the spring is delivered to a clipping device C thereby raising the second coil b of the spring a substantial distance above bottom coil b to permit clipping operation to proceed without interference, see 12, 14, and 18.

The present machine includes four parallel channels through which four springs or four rows of spring may be fed to three sets of clipping devices C, but any suitable number of channels and sets of clipping devices may be employed dependent upon whether a smaller large spring structure is to be built. Also any number of springs may be placed in each channel and shifted lengthwise thereof .by suitable feeding devices. In the present machine the feeding of the springs is accomplished by four reciprocable bars 9 extending lengthwise within the bases of the channels, see Figs. 12 and 19, and a number of separate springs or separate rows of springs are fed forward at the same time. Preferably, the bottom loops b of the springs or the connecting'clips e for the spring, are picked up and moved forwardly by a pair of springpressed catches 8--8' projecting upwardly from reciprocable bar 9. These catches grip loop b at diametrically opposite points, and catch 8 is inclined upwardly and forwardly a substantial distance to permit it to ride over and press downwardly upon the wire loop b, or its connecting clip 0, during the forward movement of feed bar 9. However, both catches yield and are inactive on the return stroke. Accordingly the two catches 88' co-operate to pull a row of springs forward without distending or distorting the loop b in the spring which is to be seated over the clipping devices, notwithstanding that a certain amount of friction and drag must be overcome in shifting a row of connected springs lengthwise in the guide-ways.

All four feed bars 9 are reciprocated in unison by means of a slldable cross piece 10 carried by top plate 2. In that way a series of springs seated side by side transversely of the machine may be drawn out of the guide-ways together and centered in a straight line above a series ,of clipping devices C while these devices are in a lowered position. At this time, plate 2 and assembly table 3 are in a raised position to prevent the loops b of the springs from becoming entangled with a series of beveled pins 11 and fingers 11' stationed around-each set of clipping devices. These pins and fingers are provided to contract and center the end coils or loops b when lowered to their seats over the clipping devices, and to position the loops definite distances apart so that a flat metal blank e may be folded into a clip E around the wires as delineated in Fig. 28. Being made of spring wire, the loops b are easily distorted, especially when the free end of the bottom loop or coil is not connected to the body of the same loop but is secured instead to the body of a loop in another spring in the same row, as delineated in Fig. 12.' Consequently, in feeding a plural number of springs simultaneously'to the clipping devices, additional precautions are taken to prevent the loops b from spreading and overlapping one another when discharged from their guide ways, and further, the loops must be prevented from hooking over any spacing projection, centering pin, or other part used to position the spring when they are lowered simultaneously over the clipping devices. Therefore, have provided supplemental guiding and guarding means at the ends of the guide ways 4' to keep the loops 1) from spreading apart when they are discharged from the guide-ways, at least until the springs have been lowered below. the tops of the guide pins 11 and fingers 11'. Thus, each guard consists of a hinged member 12 having depending side walls 12' adapted to enclose the upper pointed ends of a pair of vertical spacing projections 13 stationed upon the top of a cross member a of main frame A between two sets of clipping devicesC, see Figs. 13 to 18. The side walls 12 of member 12 are co-extensive with the side walls of guide ways 4, and therefore, the loops I) slide along these extensions and are held against lateral displacement when delivered centrally above the clipping device. A flat spring 14 bears down upon hinged guard member 12 and holds it in a horizontal position until table 2 is lowered, whereupon this member engages a stationary post 15 which tilts the hinged member upwardly out of the way of the clipping devices, see Fig. 14.

In lowering plate 2 and table 3, a set of pivoted clamping hooks F are caused to swing over the loops b concurrently with the seating of said loops upon the stationary cross piece a of main frame A, see Figs 15 and 16. These clamping hooks are pivotally secured to one edge of plate 2 and are spring pressed to unfold outwardly in respect to the loops b, see Fig. 15. When plate 2 is lowered, an angular portion on each clamping hook F engages and rides downwardly over an angular corner on an upright plate 16 fixedto crosspiece' 0, thereby causing the clamping hook to swing over loop I), with clamping effect thereon. Hooks F also assist in positioning loop b in respect to the beveled pins 11 and the clipping devices C. Also when the catches on the feed bars 9 move the spring forwardly the bottom loops b encounter stops 16' which project upwardly a slight distance from plate 2 on the line of movement of the springs, see Fig. 12. The feed bars 9 extend over the clipping devices and bridge the opening in top plate 2 through which the clipping devices project when the plate is lowered,

. and therefore the springs are supported at all times, when at rest and in travel.

Plate 2, which carries the feed bars 9, is raised and lowered intermittently by vertical slides 17 operating in guides at opposite sides of frame A, each slide being connected by a link 17' to one end of an oscillatory lever 18 and by a second .link 18' extending from the opposite end of the lever to a crank pin or eccentric 19 at one side of a small mutilated gear 20. This gear is fixed to a cross shaft 21 which is journaled in brackets mounted upon main frame A, and a larger mutilated gear 22 on a cam shaft 23 rotates gear 20 intermittently. Power is applied to cam shaft 23 in any suitable way, preferably through a clutch 24 adapted to be disconnected automatically at the end of a given number of revolutions of the cam shaft.

The feed bars 9 are also operated intermittently by and through the revolutions of cam shaft 23, a second set of interlocking mutilated gears 25 and 26, respectively, being provided for that purpose at one side of frame A adjacent gear 22. Thus a link 27 has a crank connection with the smaller gear 26 and a pivotal connection with the lower end of an oscillating lever 28 supported by a cross shaft 29 at the rear of frame A, while the upper end of this lever 28 is connected by a link 30 to an arm 31 fixed to the movable cross piece 10 to which the bars 9 are secured. Shaft 29 extends across the machine and the lever and link connections for cross piece 10 are duplicated at opposite sides of the machine to apply the power equally to opposite ends thereof. A thin sheet 32 of metal is secured to the top of piece 10 over which the clipped springs are free to slide,.

and a flat shelf 33 extends rearwardly from top plate 2 in addition, to receive the completed spring structure.

Uplift of plate 2 raises the assembly table, the

springs and feeding devices. and also shelf 33, to

a higher plane than the positioning and clipping devices, so that the springs may be released and fed forward without obstruction or interference during a suspension of clipping operations. But

. when the springs have been fed forward over the clipping devices, plate 2 is lowered, thereby seating the springs in a stationary positionto be operated upon. The upper ends of the clip folding devices C are then projected upwardly into the loops b closely adjacent to the wires Where the clips are to be applied.

Assuming that four springs are to be connected together, (as delineated) three sets of clipping devices are employed in a straight line closely adjacent one another. As these sets are in duplicate a description of one will apply to the others, although to actuate these devices simultaneously, corresponding parts thereof are secured to common operating members located upon or within frame A. Thus, referring to Fig. 6, a cross head 34 is supported to slide vertically within suitable guide-ways 35 upon frame A beneath plate 2. A pair of cams 36 upon shaft 23 functionto raise and lower cross head 34'at intervals, and a second set of cams 37 on thesame shaft pulls the cross-head downwardly at intervals, although cross head 34 is otherwise free to descend by gravity. Consequently they same movements are impartedcontemporaneously to all of the clipping devices, each of which include a pair of pivoted die members D having jaws -dd fashioned to pick up and fold a metal blank around two adjoining wires after these wires have been deposited and. clamped upon the top of plate to each clip-folding operation, before the dies are again lowered through plate 2.

When the cross head 12 begins to move upwardly the die-jaws are brought together to permit a fiat metal blank e of predetermined length to be deposited upon their rabbeted upper ends. These blanks are sheared from metal strips S by a'vertically-movable cutter 39 located at the rear of the dies, see Fig. 7. The strip is fed to the cutter a distance equal to the length of one blank by an oscillatory dog or frictional gripping element 40 which is actuated at intervals by a link 41 and a rock member 42 when a short arm 43 on' the latter is pressed downwardly by a stud bolt 44 secured to the bottom of vertically-movable plate 2. The feed dog 40 is retracted by a spring 45 during theintervals when a plunger 46 is being pressed against the metal strip S by a link'47, a pivoted lever 48, and a cam 49 on cam shaft 23.

When metal strip S is fed forwardly one blank e is pushed on top. of the dies, where it is held in place by two spring-pressed pieces 50 pivotally secured to the upper ends of die members D, see Fig. 20. Therefore, when the dies are raised the dies alone carry the flat blank upwardly against the adjoining wires of two loops b. However, before pressure is applied tothe blank the wires are engaged and held rigidly by a set of oscillatory gripping members G which are pivotally supported upon stud shafts fixed to cross piece a of frame A. When the depending shanks 51 of said members are engaged by a set of beveled blades 52 attached to the vertically-movable cross head 34, the angular jaws .of the gripping members G are tilted toward each other with sufiiarrested by the wires (see Fig. 23) the dies continue to rise, thereby folding the opposite ends of the blank upwardly at right angles around the wires as delineated in Figs. 25 and 26. The folded ends are then bent towardeach other around the wires parallel with the main body of the blank by closing the die jaws, that is, by moving them toward each other as shown in Figs. 2'7 and 28.

' vertically through cross head 34 and carry one or more pivoted wedging fingers 54 at their upper.

: ends closely adjacent the pivoted die mem-' .bers D. The upper ends of the wedging elements 54 are tapered or beveled to engage beveled shoulders or steps on stationary cross bars 54' fixed .to plate 2-adjacent each pivoted die member D.

Accordingly, when the vertical shafts 53 move upwardly in unison all the die membersD will be tilted in pairs on their respective pivots and forced together at their free ends by the wedging fingers54, see Fig. 27. That result is brought about independently of the movable cross head 34 by a series of cams 55 on shaft 23, which cams serve to reciprocate the vertical shafts 53 at, the proper times to control the closing and opening movements of the dies. Coiled compression springs 56 are also used with the cams to control the reciprocable movements of shafts 53, see Fi 6.

Now assuming the dies to be closed with a .blank folded around the adjoining wires of two springs, the stock in the blank is then compressed around the wires, and the wires and the clip jointly indented, by anotherrdie 57 secured upon the upper end of reciprocable plunger '38, see Figs. 29 to 36. This-plunger does not raise the 'blank but merely follows the dies in their upafter the clipping operation to permit them to be opened and lowered, see Fig.32. This additional uplift of the dies is effected by a short additional uplift of cross head 34 by the cams 36 on shaft 23. The die jaws are fully released from the clips when the wedging fingers 54 are lowered to permit the springs 38' to tilt the die members apart, and that movement precedes the lowering movement of cross head 34. The indenting plungers 38-are also lowered, and the gripping members G separated, before the cross head and dies move downwardly, thereby freeing the clipping mechanism entirely from the clipped spring resting upon top plate 2. But to permit the, connected springs to be shifted over sheet 32 and upon shelf 33 without interference with the guiding pins or projections 11 on cross member a of frame A,-

the connected springs are raised bodily by top plate 2, before they are fed onward by feed bars 9, thereby restoring the machine to a feeding position as at the beginning, or in brief, where themutilated gears operate to shift cross piece 10 and the bars 9 and catches 8 across the top plate and along the channels or guideways to pick up the next set or series of collccated springs and draw them into place over theclipping devices for a transversely of the machine to a corresponding number of clipping devices. Thesesprings would then be clipped together, thereby providing a row of springs connected together at their corresponding ends. A number of rows of connected springs having been produced in. that way, the separate rows may then be inserted, lengthwise within the channels and the units of'one row connected to corresponding units of the adjacent row by feeding the rows in unison and clipping the adjoining springs together simultaneously as herein shownand described.

Having united all of-the springs together, at one end, the spring structure may then be placed in an inverted position upon the assembly table and the opposite ends of the springs united in the same way.

Another mode of using the present machine is to produce. rows of springs of corresponding number in another typeof machine wherein the op- :designed to be coupled by an endless chain H to an automatic machine (not shown) but capable of producing coiled springs and also of clipping both ends--of each spring to other springs and thereby producing rows of springs successively of equal length. The rows of springs are then assembled and united together in banks or groups by the present machine as rapidly as'they are produced in and by the automatic row machine.

I claim:

1. A machine for fabricating spring structures, including means for collocating a multiple number of coiled wire springs, and means operating between adjacent coils of successive. springs for clipping all of the springs together simultane ously.

2. A machine for fabricating spring structures,

including a plurality of clipping devices arranged in a row, and means for .feeding a plurality of coiled wire springs transversely to the row and between said devices.

3. A machine for fabricating spring structures,

including a multiple number of clipping devices arranged in a row, means for assembling a multiclipping devices in unison to connect adjacent springs together.

4. A machine for fabricating spring structures,

including a multiple number of devices for connecting a multiple number of coiled wire springs together, means for collocating a multiple number of the springs adjacent said devices, and means for feeding the c'ollocatedsprings in unison between 'said devices. I

' 5. A machine for fabricating spring structures, including a multiple number of devices for clipping a multiple number of coiled wire springs in series, and means for operating all of said clipping devices in unison to effect clipping of all of the springs simultaneously.

6. A machine for fabricating spring structures,

including separate sets of clipping devices, means for guiding a multiple number of coiled wire 

